In preparation for a new Institute of Texan Cultures museum, UTSA was given permission to raze the Texas Pavilion despite the San Antonio Conservation Society’s strong objections to demolishing the 1968 historical site. Corrina Green, Chief Real Estate Officer at UTSA, requested the raze of the Texas Pavilion. The Texas Historical Commission approved UTSA’s request to demolish the pavilion to further redevelop the HemisFair Historical District. The Texas Conservation Society has a petition with over 2,000 signatures seeking to preserve and reuse the significant landmark. There has been a remediation in process for the past couple of weeks delaying the demolition.
The demolition is estimated to happen during the summer. Joe Izbrand had no comment to give to The Paisano on the subject of the raze to the Texas Pavilion and relocation of the Institute of Texan Cultures. Executive Director of the San Antonio Conservation Society Vincent Michael said the SCS is “against UTSA, the city, and the historical society granting permission for demolition.”
“[I hope] the city moves forward judicially and not irrationally,” Micheal said.
The plan to raze the Texas Pavilion is in preparation for San Antonio’s “Project Marvel,” which includes plans for a new professional basketball arena to be built on the property.
The idea for the new sports arena surfaced in February 2023, when the University of Texas System Board of Regents conditionally approved a plan to lease or sell the property to the city. UTSA plans to sell the 13 and one-half acre property to fund the new museum, which is estimated to be located behind the Crockett Hotel on an existing parking lot.
The Texas Historical Commission’s “go-ahead and the university’s timeline” of the approval and expected demolition did not sit well with the Conservation Society of San Antonio.
Conservation Society President Lewis Vetter said in the December article by San Antonio Express-News that he criticizes the “rushed decision.”
UTSA pitched to the state commission that it would cost $74 million to maintain it, therefore leveraging their reason to demolish one of the last buildings from the HemisFair World’s Fair for educational purposes.
UTSA plans to honor the Texas Pavilion in the new location of the ITC.
This is a two part article: The next issue will reflect on the history of the Folklife Festival that was part of the Institute of Texans Cultures.
